_Triton_ s. _Molge_.–The tail is strongly compressed and frequently has a permanent fin. The fronto-squamosal arch is variable, it being either bony as in the South European, Eastern and American species, or reduced to a ligament, or lastly absent as in _T. cristatus_. The males of all the English Newts, of _T. vittatus_ and of _T. marmoratus_, develop a high cutaneous crest on the back and tail during the breeding season, and this crest acts not only as a swimming organ and ornament, but also as a sensory organ. The whole genus comprises some eighteen species, twelve of which are European, although some of these extend into Western {123}Asia; _T. pyrrhogaster_ and _T. sinensis_ are found in N.E. China, the former also in Japan; _T. poireti_ and _T. hagenmuelleri_ live in Algeria, and only two, _T. torosus_ and _T. viridescens_, are North American. Some of the species have a limited range; thus _T. montanus_ is confined to Corsica, _T. rusconii_ to Sardinia, _T. boscai_ to the north-west of the Iberian peninsula and _T. asper_ to the Pyrenees. Newts all prefer moisture without heat. During the pairing season they take to the water, mostly to stagnant pools, which sometimes implies long migrations. During this period, which is in some cases rather prolonged, they become thoroughly aquatic and undergo some important changes. The tail-fins are much enlarged; in the males of some species a high cutaneous fold grows out on the back, devoid of muscles, but rich in sense-organs. The whole skin, instead of being dry, possesses numerous mucous glands and, what is of more importance, specialised sensory apparatuses which are arranged chiefly along the lateral lines of the body and part of the tail. After the breeding season Newts become terrestrial, hiding in cracks, trees, or in the sandy soil. Some species aestivate during the hot and dry season. They hibernate either in the ground, or occasionally in ponds. _T. vulgaris_ is difficult to keep in the water beyond the pairing season, while this is easily done with _T. alpestris_ and _T. cristatus_; _T. waltli_ can live in the water for years. The food consists of all kinds of insects, centipedes, worms, snails, etc., which are searched for chiefly at night. It is astonishing to see a little Triton getting hold of and gradually swallowing a wriggling earthworm almost as thick and as long as itself. When two newts seize the same worm, as these voracious and jealous creatures often do, each gets hold of one end, and swallowing as much as it can, twists and rolls round in a direction opposite to that of its rival, until the worm breaks, or until the jaws of the two newts meet and the stronger of the two draws it out of the weaker one and swallows the whole worm. They do not drink, but soak themselves in the water.